Protect Yourself and Report the Latest Frauds, Scams, Spams, Fakes, Identify Theft Hacks and Hoaxes
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Have you received an email from Mr. Ross Lukas of "Supreme Textiles" in the United Kingdom (or ANYWHERE else) offering you a job as a "Book-Keeper", "Payment Officer", "local agent" or "local representative" in which you "receive payments", deduct your "Processing fee", deposit the checks and then wire most of the money to an overseas "company"?
It is an AFF / Money transfer Scam. They'll send you counterfeit checks which you are supposed to deposit, take out some percentage (typically, 10%) for your work, and then MoneyGram or Western Union wire the remaining 90%. Notice that although you receive checks, they won't let you forward a check to them, only Western Union or Money Gram. There's a reason for this: Western Union and MoneyGrams are cashed immediately and are untraceable and irretrievable. Bank checks can take 1 or 2 weeks to clear!
Of course, since the check is fake, it will bounce a week or so later after you deposit it. But you have already moneygram'ed the scammers the 90% of the amount, and that is transacted almost instantly. So you now owe the bank for the full amount. You may also face criminal charges for passing counterfeit checks. See this page for a step-by-step explanation of how the scam unfolds.
Do you have a resume posted online? We'd like to hear from you about your experiences recruiting emails that turned out to be scams or misleading - click here to write us.
Notice the passages we have highlighted in the actual scam email below. They point out some of the additional clues that it is a scam, such as the email comes from a free email account (such as Yahoo.com, Hotmail.com, Aim.com, Gmail, cox.net, etc.). Wouldn't you expect a company to have its own website and email address (after all, it only costs about $200/year; every reputable company has its own website these days!) And don't be surprised if the scammers do put the names of real companies, real websites and events in their scams; it doesn't mean anything at all!
From : <dollkg73@planet.nl>
Reply-To : dollkg73@planet.nl
Sent : April 30, 2007 1:36:50 PM
Subject : Supreme textiles(job offer)Dear Sir/Madam,
Compliments of the season, I represent Supreme textiles a reputable company here in the United Kingdom. We produce and distribute clothing materials such as batiks, assorted fabrics and traditional costume worldwide. Would you like to work online from home and get paid weekly? Supreme Textiles needs a Book-Keeper in the United States, Canada, South America, Asia, Mexico, Australia and parts of Europe. You could work from home and getting paid for the services being rendered without leaving or affecting your present Job. Supreme Textiles is recruiting individuals to work for the company as a Representative/Book Keeper in the countries listed above.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR US.
The inter national money transfer tax for legal entities (companies) in UK is 25%, whereas for the individual it is only 7%.There is no sense for us to work this way, while tax for international money transfer made by a private individual is 7% .That's why we need you! We need agents to receive payment from our customers (in money orders, check or bank wire transfers) and to resend the money to us via Money Gram or Western Union Money Transfer. This way we will save money because of tax decreasing.
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. Receive payment from Clients
2. Cash Payments at your Bank
3. Deduct 10% which will be your percentage/pay on Payment processed. 4. Forward balance after deduction of percentage/pay to any of the offices you will be contacted to send payment to (Payment is to be forwarded either by Money Gram or Western Union Money Transfer).
HOW MUCH WILL YOU EARN?
10% from each operation! For instance: you receive 500 0 USD via checks or money orders on our behalf. You will cash the money and keep $500 (10% from $5000) for yourself! At the beginning your commission will equal 10%, though later it will increase up to 12%!
ADVANTAGES
You do not have to go out as you will work as an independent contractor right from your home office. Your job is absolutely legal. You can earn up to $3000-4000 monthly depending on time you will spend for this job. You do not need any capital to start. You can do the Work easily without leaving or affecting your present Job. The employees who make efforts and work hard have a strong possibility to become managers. Anyway our employees never leave us due to our excellent work condition.
MAIN REQUIREMENTS:
18 years or older
Legally capable
Responsible
Ready to work 3-4 hours per week
With PC knowledge
E-mail and internet experience (minimal)
NOTE: EMPLOYEES WITH COMPANY ACCOUNT WILL BE GRANTED PREFERENCE and please know that everything is absolutely legal, if you are interested in our offer, please reply immediately so that we can start doing business. Thanks for your anticipated response. And we hope to hear back from you. YOU ARE TO SEND YOUR REPLY TO MY ALTERNATE/PRIVATE EMAIL: ross_lukas238@yahoo.com.hk
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Ross Lukas
FOREIGN SALES DEPARTMENT,
SUPREME TEXTILES INDUSTRIES
36 King Orry Road,
Glen Vine, IM4 4FJ United Kingdom
IF INTERESTED, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO SEND YOUR RESPONSE TO MY ALTERNATE/PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS Ross_lukas238@yahoo.com.hk
There are a variety of sleazy scams that look, at first glance, like legitimate job offers. Before you write back to them, pause a moment and read about the scams below!
Some of the more common job scams are